Welcome!
Welcome to the February issue.
2018 is now long gone, and I have
noticed recently that it is just
starting to stay a little lighter
longer as we go through the day.
Things are on the up!
Living by the river, as I do, I am
also grateful that we have
experienced no rising water. We
really suffered in the floods of
2014.
In this issue, local historian John
Pulford tells us more of Mount
Felix, and we also hear of
Canaletto s beautiful painting of
Walton Bridge.
We take a peek behind the history
of HWM, Walton s purveyors of
Aston Martin , and we also take a

February 2019
look at a true Walton film star,
Julie Andrews.
Don t forget Valentine s Day on
the 14th. Did you know that it
actually has a very dark
beginning? Find out more on page
9.
Take care, wrap up, and I will see
you again in March.

Mount Felix
Canaletto
Dark Origins of Valentine s Day
HWM and Stirling Moss
May Clark
The Walton Society
The Original Mary Poppins
Through The Keyhole
Fostering
We all Love a Superhero
Recipe of The Month
Garden View
It isn t just a Haircut
Events we Like
Dominic Raab
Index of Advertisers

Mount Felix
By John C Pulford
This grand Italianate mansion once stood
overlooking the Thames by Walton Bridge,
with its grounds running alongside the river
from the bridge to the Swan Hotel bordered to
the south by Manor Road and Bridge Street.
A house existed there in the mid-17th century
but in 1713 the land was acquired by Captain
Harry Rodney, father of the future Admiral
Lord Rodney, and a new house built. Other
owners in the 18th century included Samuel
Dicker a wealthy merchant and Member of
Parliament who had the first Walton Bridge
constructed in 1750.

In 1772 Charles Bennet, 4th Earl of Tankerville, acquired the estate and later built a new
house called Felix Mount. The Earl s Head
Gardener, Edward Lumpy Stevens, was also
a leading Surrey cricketer, whose bowling
was so accurate that in one match in 1775, he
three times bowled the ball clean between the
two-stump wicket without dislodging the bail.
This feat lead to the decision to introduce a
third stump to the game of cricket. Edward
Stevens tombstone still stands in Walton
churchyard. The Earl inhabited the house
until his death in 1822 and his wife remained
there for another 14 years.
Between 1837 and 1840, Bennet s son, the 5th
Earl of Tankerville, had a new house designed
by Charles Barry, later responsible for the
present Houses of Parliament. Barry designed
a mansion in the Italian style, incorporating a
70 foot (21.3 metre) tower, and the building
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4

was renamed Mount Felix.
In 1856 the 5th Earl sold it to Herbert Ingram,
founder of The Illustrated London News and a
Member of Parliament. His widow died there
40 years later and the property was acquired
by John Cook, son of Thomas Cook, founder
of the travel agency. He had Walton s first
telephone installed and provided a field for
the use of Walton s first football club. John
Cook sadly died in 1899 after a visit to Jerusalem and the house stood empty for several
years. The grounds however were utilised by
film pioneer Cecil Hepworth and in 1903 the
outdoor scenes of the first ever film adaption
of Lewis Carroll s Alice in Wonderland were
shot there.
Possibilities for its use as council offices,
library and museum or country club fell
through, but with the outbreak of World War
One it was requisitioned for use as a military
hospital particularly for New Zealand soldiers between 1915 and 1920. This period of
its history has been described in more detail
by Nick Pollard in Walton Matters Issue 3.
After the house was converted into flats and
much of the land sold off, it came into the
ownership of the Local Authority in 1965
after they refused an application for demolition. However, a disastrous fire the following
year destroyed much of the building, resulting
in the demolition of everything including the
tower which, for a while, it was hoped would
be saved.
Today the stable block and some nineteenth
century out-buildings survive along with the
entrance pillars opposite Oatlands Drive,
which still bear the Ingram family arms. The
site of the mansion is now built over but one
of the Cedars which formerly flanked the tower still stands as a landmark and reminder of
one of England s lost historic houses.
References:- Mount Felix, John Stonebanks; Walton and Weybridge Local History Society, 1978.
Walton Past, Bryan Ellis, Phillimore; 2002. Photo â&#x20AC;&#x201C;
Mount Felix , East View c.1910.(Private collection)

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01932 269616
or
07746 062214

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U N T I L

1 0

M A R C H

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locations used in The Favourite, the critically-acclaimed
ﬁlm starring Olivia Colman as Queen Anne.

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Old Walton Bridge and Canaletto
In 1747 Samuel Dicker, local landowner and
later MP for Plymouth, obtained permission
to build a bridge at Walton. It was designed
by William Etheridge and built by White of
Weybridge to consist of "timbers tangent to a
circle of 100 feet diameter" and was built so
that a single timber could be extracted and
repaired without disturbing the rest of the
bridge. Old Walton Bridge was completed in
August 1750 and acquired some fame, meriting an article in the Gentleman's Magazine, a
report in Daniel Defoe's Tour in 1753 and a
painting by Canaletto in 1754. The painting,
which shows the rococo-style of this bridge,
is in Dulwich Picture Gallery.
The timber structure stood approximately 33

bridge is unusual because the identities of
several of the figures are known. In the centre
of the painting on the near bank, two figures
can be seen standing together; to the left is
Thomas Hollis who commissioned the painting from Canaletto, and almost certainly requested that he be included. It is likely that
Hollis selected the image from a sketch in
Canaletto's portfolio, as the painting omits the
stone abutments that were added in 1751. To
Hollis' right is Thomas Brand, his lifelong
friend and heir. Further to the right, dressed in
colourful livery, is Hollis' servant, Francesco
Giovannini, and at the feet of Hollis is his
dog, Malta. Seated a little distance from the
central group on the left (with a cow looking
over his shoulder) is an
artist thought to be
Canaletto himself. In
the river a ship is lowering its sail in order to
pass under the bridge.
With the towering
storm clouds forming
above the bridge, Canaletto contrasts the forces of nature with the
work of engineering
below; the painting is
the only of his English
works in which he attempts to capture the
weather.
Samuel Dicker's house
at Mount Felix can be
seen in the rear of the picture to the left of the
bridge, but Dicker â&#x20AC;&#x201D; probably after seeing
Hollis's painting â&#x20AC;&#x201D; commissioned a different
view of the bridge from Canaletto in 1755 in
which his house can be seen more clearly and
the full extent of the bridge works that he had
funded (including the extensive stone abutments) is obvious.

years, that is, until 1783. A report on the condition of the bridge in 1778 suggested that
decay in the wooden frame made it unsuitable
for use and it was dismantled five years later.
Canaletto spent time in England between
1746 and 1755, mostly in London, but at
some time after 1750 he travelled out to Walton to produce a painting of the bridge. Normally the figures populating his landscapes
were anonymous, but his painting of the
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Source: Various

7

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Valentine's Day is a time to celebrate romance and
love and kissy-face fealty. But the origins of this
festival of chocolates and cupids are dark, bloody
â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and a bit muddled. The day most people call
Saint Valentine s Day or simply Valentine s Day
has nothing to do with hearts or flowers, and definitely nothing to do with the Christianity or the
Saint that the church tried to connect it to. Just

struck with the thong would be granted fertility
and would be free from evil. Of course, you can
imagine many Roman women accidentally getting in the way of the light whip, some several
times. The sight of naked men running through the
streets whipped willing maidens and the revelry
and feasting over the days must have been viewed
by the church as an excessive indulgence in debaucherous behaviour.
The
Romans on the other hand loved
it. Young women would line up
for the men to hit them,
The brutal fete included a
matchmaking lottery, in which
young men drew the names of
women from a jar. The couple
would then be coupled up for
the duration of the festival â&#x20AC;&#x201D; or
longer, if the match was right.
The ancient Romans may also
be responsible for the name of
our modern day of love.
According to the story, in the
third century A.D, Roman Emperor Claudius II, seeking to
bolster his army, forbade young
men to marry. Valentine, it is
said, flouted the ban, performing
The Lupercalia Festival, 1736, Edme Bouchardon
marriages in secret.
For his defiance, Valentine was
like the scores of other pagan celebrations which
executed in A.D. 270â&#x20AC;&#x201D;on February 14, the story
were hijacked, renamed, and altered, Valentine s goes.
Day is a product of a growing religion bent on
While it's not known whether the legend is true, his
controlling the population.
martyrdom was honoured by the Catholic Church
Though no one has pinpointed the exact origin of
with the celebration of St. Valentine's Day.
the holiday, one good place to start is ancient
Later, Pope Gelasius I muddled things in the 5th
Rome, where men hit on women by, well, hitting
century by combining St. Valentine's Day with
them.
Lupercalia to expel the pagan rituals. But the festiThose Wild And Crazy Romans
val was more of a theatrical interpretation of what
From February 13-15, the Romans celebrated the it had once been. As the years went on, the holifeast of Lupercalia. The ancient festival was filled
day grew sweeter. Chaucer and Shakespeare rowith nudity, sexuality, ritual sacrifices, feasting,
manticized it in their work, and it gained popularigames, and history, all wrapped up in a healthy
ty throughout Britain and the rest of Europe. Handdose of naughtiness. The slaughtered goats were
made paper cards became the tokens-du-jour in the
skinned and the skins divided into long thongs,
Middle Ages.
similar to whips. After a period of feasting, the
Eventually, the tradition made its way to the New
young men would strip naked and parade through World. The industrial revolution ushered in factory
the streets striking people with the goat-skin
-made cards in the 19th century. And in 1913,
thongs. Since a male goat represented sexuality in
Hallmark Cards began mass producing valentines.
ancient Rome, this practice was heavily laden in
February has not been the same since.
eroticism. It was believed that anyone who was
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9

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Hersham and Walton Motors and
the magnificent Stirling Moss
Have you ever been past HWM in Walton
and lusted after the Astons facing out at you?
Have you ever wondered about the history?

to compete in Formula One. HWM abandoned the new Formula One after two appearances as their car was seriously outclassed. Meanwhile, the first Jaguar-engined

Well, Hersham and Walton Motors
(HWM) is the world's longest established Aston Martin business (having
acquired the franchise in 1951) and is
well known as a racing car constructor. As a constructor, it is best known
for its involvement in Formula Two
from 1950 to 1953 and Formula One
in 1954. When HWM owners George
Abecassis and John Heath went racing together from 1946 and in 1948
they built a streamlined sports racing
car on the chassis of a Sports Alta,
and thus embarked upon the construction of racing cars and racing
sports cars at their motor works in
Walton. The 1948 car gave them
encouraging results and so new car,
this time called an HW-Alta, was
constructed and raced in 1949; this
car was sufficiently successful to
convince the partners to embark upon building a full team of cars for the
A young and rather pensive Stirling Moss sits in his HWM
-Alta before practice. He would finish a very respectable
1950 Formula Two season of British and
eighth, two laps down, Swiss Grand Prix, Bremgarten
continental events: these cars were
(Bern), May 27, 1951
known as HWMs.
The young Stirling Moss raced for HWM in HWM sports racing car had appeared in
1950 and 1951 all over Europe, an era that 1953, and this had some success with George
did much to establish him as the most prom- Abecassis at the wheel. From then on until
ising young driver of his generation. Other 1957, the team was involved in sports car
HWM drivers of the time included Duncan racing both in Britain and on the continent,
Hamilton , Peter Collins and Lance Macklin.
sometimes beating their Jaguar and Aston
Martin Works competitors. After John Heath
was killed on the 1956 Mille Miglia in Italy
From 1950 to 1952, HWM achieved remark- in an HWM Works car, Abecassis did not
able success in Formula Two for a team that wish to continue and the works racing
was run on very little money and yet which programme continued for just a year.
faced the might of continental marques in
every race. By 1953 they were outclassed,
but when the international Formula changed
in 1954, John Heath constructed a works car
Source : Various

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responding to adverts

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Walton Voices in Remembrance Events
Local community choir
Walton Voices recently
played their part in
events commemorating
the 100th Anniversary of
the end of World War 1.
The R C Sherriff trust staged "A Remembrance of
Things Past" at Christ the Prince of Peace Church,
Weybridge in support of the Mayor of Elmbridge's
charity appeal. The programme was inspired by
memories and letters of war recalled by the participants in the Rosebriars Arts Initiative.
Local composer Jack Hurst was commissioned to
set some of these memories to music and Walton
Voices was privileged to perform the premiere of
this emotional work. The sensitivity and poignancy of the songs captured the essence of trials and
tragedies of war so vividly that some members of
the choir found it difficult to sing.

About 30 members of the choir travelled to Berlin
in November and participated in "A Concert for
Peace". They were part of an international choir of
over 1500 singers coming together in a televised
concert at the Mercedes-Benz Arena.
Centrepiece of the concert was Sir Karl Jenkins'
"The Armed Man" with the composer himself conducting. Being part of such an event, joining with
choirs from over 30 countries in such a seminal
event, was both humbling and exhilarating. All
those who sang will never forget the occasion and
the sense of uniting to celebrate the end of war and
the start of peace. Walton Voices is a community
choir and as well as giving three main concerts a
year has an outreach programme to involve local
schools and charitable causes in and around
Elmbridge. It welcomes new members (no audition
needed) and details can be found on the website:
waltonvoices.co.uk

Community
Group
Comment
MOUSE
We are most grateful for the
inclusions you have given us in
Molesey and Walton Matters. You
may be interested to know that,
whilst we have been
exhaustively placing flyers locally,
each response resulting in a new
member turns out to have come
from your magazine!
Honey Russell, Henrietta Chorale

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Part of the Hampton School Trust.
IAPS Independent Day School for boys
aged 3 -11 & girls aged 3 - 7 years

Between 1900 and 1908, Sunbury born May Clark
became a star in many of the earliest silent films
that were made at the Walton on Thames studios of
the pioneer film maker Cecil Hepworth.
Mabel (May) Clark was born in Sunbury on 1st
June 1885 and almost certainly at the Ferry
House , 72 Thames Street, where her parents, William Clark and Louisa, were known to be living at
the time of their marriage in January 1884.
William Clark was a boat builder at the Ferry
boatyard and also at Clark Bros.
boatyard situated directly opposite
on the Walton bank of the Thames.
Census returns show that by 1891,
William, Louisa and family had
moved and were living in Walton
on Thames at Thames Street and by
1901 at Chapel Street. Both roads
were close to Hepworth s studio
which had opened in 1899 at a
Victorian villa The Rosary in
Hurst Grove, Walton.
(Today,
Hepworth Way acknowledges the
original location of the studio).
May began employment at the studio in 1900 at the age of 15. With a
starting wage of just 7s/6d per
week, she built sets, gathered props,
sewed costumes and eventually
gained the necessary skills to develop and print films which had been
shot earlier in the day. As Hepworth employed no professional
actors until 1905, his employees were frequently
required to turn their talents to acting. May was
promptly chosen to play the starring role of Alice
in the 1903 silent film Alice in Wonderland ,
whilst Cecil Hepworth played the Frog Footman
and his wife Margaret, the White Rabbit and
Queen of Hearts. The film has become historically
important as it is the first in a long line of later film
adaptations of Lewis Carroll s 1865 children s
book Alice s Adventures in Wonderland . Due to
degradation with age and cutting losses, the original twelve minute film now runs for only nine
minutes. A still taken from the film (above) shows
Alice (May) trapped in the White Rabbit s house
after regaining her normal size. All the interior
scenes were shot on a small wooden stage at the
studio, with exteriors shot in the lavish gardens of
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14

nearby Mount Felix. The film can be viewed
online at Alice in Wonderland - BFI player .
Hepworth s 1905 film Rescued by Rover was a
phenomenal success with 395 prints sold for
worldwide distribution. May played the part of a
distraught nursemaid, but the real star of the film
was Rover, in reality the Hepworth family dog
Blair, who quickly became a household favourite.
In 1907, May married Norman Whitten at St.
Mary s Church, Walton. Their marriage certificate

shows
the
professions
of
both
as
Cinematographers . May is recorded as having
acted in nineteen of Hepworth s films (Ref.1) and
remained in his employment until the birth of her
first child in 1908. By that time May had become
Company Secretary at the studios. In later years,
May and her husband Norman established a number of successful companies associated with the
film industry, with May as head of business for
many of them.
May died on 17th March 1971 aged 86.
Ref.1 - Online May Clark - Women Film Pioneers
Project
Ken Battle is a member of the Sunbury & Shepperton Local History Society
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LONGACRES
GARDEN CENTRE

Don’t forget

SHEPPERTON

Thurs 14th Feb

Top Sellers

1
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9

£2 Stem
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Longacres Shepperton has a lovely range of flowers and gifts for Valentine’s Day.

12 Ivory Roses

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12 Mixed Bouquet

£19.99

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Call 01932 777677 or visit longacres.co.uk
● Collection in store
● Local & Nationwide delivery
We’ve a great café & the following departments:

Elmbridge Museum - Object in Focus
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY SILK BROCADE POMPADOUR SHOES
Madame de Pompadour, the French King
Louis XV s official mistress, was known for
being curvaceous and alluring, as well as
fashion forward. The Pompadour style of
shoe has a heel that bends sensuously under
the wearer, making the footwear unsupportive and difficult to walk in. The high heel
under the instep made the foot look small,
which was seen to be desirable.

ÂŠELMBRIDGE MUSEUM
This pair of pink and white brocade
Pompadour shoes date from around 1760.
The elaborate pattern may have matched a woman s dress and the two flaps which cross over
the tongue would have been held together by a buckle. Fashions changed and from 1790
buckles lost popularity and shoe flaps were tied with ribbons instead.
This object will be featured at Cobham Library in The Devil s in the Detail in
February 2019.

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The Walton Society

(Walton Residents Association)
Bridge Street - A Walk On The Even Side
When I met my wife she was living in a flat of the
central block of Wellington Close. We married in
1982 and though we wanted to move to a house,
we thought it unlikely that we could afford anything nearby. However, coming home early from
work one day and finding I didn't have my keys I
walked down the High Street and gazed into the

Horse Chestnuts In Front Of "The Bear" about 1904

window of Billlinghurst Higby-Chard. There I saw
a property for sale in Bridge Street. In September
1983 we moved in. At this time I had little idea of
how steeped in history Bridge Street was. Walking
from Walton Bridge, all the even numbered properties from numbers 80 down to 36 were either buildings released from the Mount Felix estate or built
on land released by the estate in the 1920's. Numbers 52 to 60 and 66 were converted from the stables of the big house. The Clock Tower, now a
commercial building, had previously been the
coach house. Of course some of these houses have
been replaced by newer buildings. Alfred Moorat
enlisted in the Westminster Rifles two days after
World War I broke out. He was discharged due to
wounds in October 1916. He latterly lived at number 44 Bridge Street from at least 1929. He died in
1985 in his nineties and his house came on the
market. At the same time the couple who lived on a
"backland" plot (number 42a) behind the main line
of houses decided to split up and their bungalow
came up for sale, too. Thus Bridge Close was deTo advertise call Paul on 07946 494288

veloped with a new number 44 and five additional
houses on Mr Moorat's garden and the site of number 42a. Number 34, the first house beyond the
junction with River Mount and Manor Road, is
Georgian in origin. For years part of it contained a
Secretarial Bureau, but it has now reverted to purely residential accommodation. Next to this building
there was a significant plot on which Walton
House once stood. In the run up to World War II it
housed a building used as a drill hall for
the 79th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, R.A.
The gunners gazed across the road with
approval at the newly built Art-Deco style
Orchard Court. During the war they
fought in Java and Timor and many ended
up as prisoners of the Japanese. The site
later sported two nineteen sixties built
blocks used, amongst other things, as a
disaster recovery site in case of failure of
customer computer systems. Now we
have the massive Bridge House on the
site. Next door stands The Bear public
house (the first "Bear" was built around
1729), with its magnificent horse chestnut
trees. The trees were thriving at the beginning of the 20th century, when the pub was
quite a small building compared with the current
incarnation. Next comes the building occupied by a
toy shop before it became a restaurant with the
George public house (opened 1888) adjoining. On
the other side of the junction with Thames Street
and Mayo Road was Gordon & Alexander, the
decorator's merchant. Later this building underwent an excellent renovation and reopened as a
pine furniture shop, before becoming an Indian
restaurant. The Rodd Engineering site closed down
and was developed as Manor Place. Amongst the
last few shops as one approached the town centre
traffic lights were a butcher's shop and a jewellers.
A jeweller's still remains, but, in addition we have
an estate agency for retirement properties. The
butcher's shop "The Taste of Walton" has disappeared. On offer instead is traditional Thai massage. A sign of the times, but an interesting walk.
Graham Woolgar, for the Walton Society.
walton.society@btinternet.com

17

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The Original Mary Poppins
The remake of the Disney classic Mary
Poppins is everywhere, and by all accounts
Emily Blunt is brilliant in the lead role.
But for people of a certain age like myself,
who can forget the sheer charm of the original. It s lead actor being none other than
Walton s own Julie Andrews.
Julie Andrews is simply
one of the most enduring
and popular figures in the
British acting profession,
even if her most recognisable work took place

served as a maid.
She made her stage debut in 1947, singing an
aria at the London Hippodrome. She then
made her Broadway debut in 1954 with The
Boy Friend. In 1963, she started work on
Mary Poppins. Walt Disney had seen her in a
performance of Camelot and thought she was

four decades ago with
Mary Poppins (1964) and The Sound of Music (1965).Julia Elizabeth Wells was born in
1935 in at the Rodney House Maternity Hospital in Rodney
Road in Walton.
She
lived
in
Westcar Lane on the border of
Walton and Hersham. The Andrews family then
took up residence
at the Old Meuse,
in West Grove,
Hersham, a house
(now demolished)
where Andrews'
maternal grandmother
had

ideal for the part of the quintessential - but
magical - British nanny. Upon completion,
the film became the biggest box-office draw
in Disney history, winning five Oscars in the
process. In 1965 she also won an Oscar for
The Sound of Music. She has continued to
star in films, musicals and television shows.
She was made a dame in 2000 and in 2002
was voted 59th in a poll of the 100 Greatest
Britons. Richard Stirling, the author, who
was curator of her retrospective in 2005 recalls, She was first into musicals, Broadway
and then Hollywood, but she never forgot
Walton." Her mother, Barbara, was a pianist.
In her early days she would perform at the
Walton Playhouse where her auntie ran a
dance class - The Joan Morris School of
Dancing.
Source : Various

Photograph: Everett Collection/Rex Feature

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Housing Market
Predictions 2019
With the Christmas decorations safely packed
away and life has returned to normality, many
people now focus on their aspirations for the
coming year and look forward to the spring.
For many their plans include moving home
and understandably, they wish to have the
reassurance that their investment is going to be
prudent.

Housing Market Commentary:

Before you read the following predictions from
a few of the property industry’s highly regarded
and leading professionals, allow me to offer
you a few words of advice. If you are looking
to make a short-term investment it is unlikely
that you will see a net profit within the next
couple of years. However, lets not lose sight of
the main reason that many people buy, which
is to provide them and their families with a
long-term home and the security that it brings.
A byproduct of this is that a main residence
property has consistently proven to be one of
the best tax-free investments even allowing for
market fluxuations.

“What is reassuring however is the overall
resilience of the housing market. 2019 should
offer a more promising outlook as we expect to
see those cautious buyers who have been sitting
on the fence, start to take reassurance from a
Brexit decision in one form or another. The
sooner something can be announced the better.”

With the house values in general having
retrenched to those more akin to early 2016
and the availability of fixed rate mortgages still
being at highly competitive rates, makes now an
excellent time buy.

“Purchasers looking to buy as a home should take
a longer term view, safe in the knowledge that
despite peaks and troughs in the housing market, in
the long term buying a property will always prove
to be a good investment.”

When you sell with Curchods, we will advertise your
home on all the major property websites:

Below you can read commentary from
a collection of industry experts for their
predictions for the housing market in 2019:
Michael Ansell, Managing Director at Curchods:

“What we do expect to remain constant however,
is an underlying market that is fundamentally sound.
So when sellers are realistic and take good advice
from a knowledgeable agent, sales will continue to
be agreed.”

John Morgan, Sales Manager Curchods Mortgage Services

Miles Shipside, Director at Rightmove

“I believe the outlook for the mortgage market for
2019, will be focused around a number of factors,
being new lenders entering the marketplace,
continued growth in specialist lending areas and
finally potential interest rate activity.”

“While buyer affordability is stretched in some parts
of the UK due to house price rises having outstripped
wage rises, the underlying fundamentals supporting
the housing market are currently sound. Positive
employment data and affordable mortgage interest
rates at high loan-to-value ratios are key to keeping
property prices broadly in line with current levels.”

“Tackling the subject of interest rates, movement
can usually be linked to activity around the Bank
of England base rate, which Mark Carney and the
monetary policy committee control based on the
current economic standing.
“Certainly, the outlook will significantly depend on
the nature of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.
Be that a smooth transition, a hard exit or even a
disorderly exit, the outcome could potentially result
in a base rate rise, a reduction or continuation of
the status quo – I would believe the latter being
the most likely.”
Richard Donnell, Director of Research at Zoopla

“The mix of buyers in the sales market has changed
over the last decade. First time buyers have been
the driving force for sales in recent years and we
at Zoopla expect them to be the largest group of
house purchasers in 2019, accounting for two in
every 5 sales. Irrespective of Brexit, we predict that
house inflation will be somewhere between 2-3
% in 2019.”

“Home movers are being negatively influenced by
the ongoing political uncertainty, and a more certain
outlook would obviously assist market sentiment.”
“Whilst uncertainty traditionally deters some
discretionary movers, particularly at the high end of
the market, there are many would-be buyers and
sellers who will be getting on with their lives and
will be keeping the market moving.”
You can read the full article on our blog:
www.curchods.com/blog and for accurate and
professional advice on all property matters contact
Warren Fraser, Partner at Curchods Walton.

WARREN FRASER M NAE A
PA RT NE R

01932 247777

To advertise call Paul on 07946 494288

22

Or email paul@villagematters.co.uk

Through The Keyhole
Georgina Broadhurst, Just Shutters.
If you re hoping to sell your home this
Spring, you might want to make sure it s free

chance to make a first impression! Many
potential buyers decide on a property simply
from its kerb appeal. One useful trick is to
take a picture of the exterior and interior as
you often don t notice things when you re
used to seeing them, whereas you might notice them in a photo.
It s easy to boost your homes kerb appeal by
tidying up the outside for a relatively modest
budget. Paint the front door, replace broken
path tiles and invest in window boxes, pots or

of woodchip and Artex first, because new
research has revealed that these are the interior design faux-pas that prospective house
buyers dislike the most.
Terry s Fabric commissioned a study to find
out how satisfied 1,000 UK homeowners really were with their properties. Woodchip,
Artex walls, carpeted bathrooms, and
statement walls came out on top as the biggest interior design bugbears when moving
into a new home.
The study also found that a third aren t happy
with their homes, with more than a quarter
saying it would cost ÂŁ20,000 to transform the
space into their dream property. Some 10
percent even go as far as to say it would be
impossible to turn the house they have bought
into the ideal home. Additionally, two years
is the average time it takes for a new buyer to
feel settled once moving day is over.
And the room they wish they could overhaul
the most? Perhaps unsurprisingly it s the
kitchen that s most in need of change, followed by the master bedroom and the dining
room.
In the quest to make a sale it is also imperative that you remember that you only get one
To advertise call Paul on 07946 494288

topiary for an instant improvement. If you re
feeling brave, go for a bold fresh colour to
really stand out and replace tired and mismatched door furniture with smart handles,
knobs, knockers and letter boxes in a fresh
metallic finish to add instant appeal. Of
course, we re biased but we think that adding
shutters to the windows will deliver maximum kerb appeal and make your house irresistible to potential buyers.
Just Shutters Winter Sale offers up to 25% off
the range of plantation and solid wood shutters. For a design visit Call 01932 500 270
or visit JustShutters.co.uk.

23

Or email paul@villagematters.co.uk

Foster care; offering brighter futures
for children and young people
With over 1000 children in care in Surrey,
Surrey County Council are always looking for
more people to open up their homes and lives

Now, I work as Children's Rights Apprentice
for Surrey County Council. I love my job
supporting children and young people in care,
I wouldn't change it for the world.

All Pictures courttesy
of Ted(20
Palmer
Megan
years www.phototed.co.uk
old)
At first I was so scared. I was 15 years old
and worried that I wouldn't get along with my
foster carers. Honestly it was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. But after a few
weeks I started to settle in and then everything was perfect.
to some of the most vulnerable children in the
county. People from all backgrounds are welcomed, including those willing to take in older children and teenagers, helping them move
into adulthood and achieve their potential.
Like Lewis and Megan.
Lewis (21 years old)
My early childhood consisted of neglect and
physical abuse. So when I came into foster
care aged 11, I had no idea how to keep myself clean. My teeth were really bad and I was
behind at school. Food was always an issue
and my brother and I often had to steal from
the local shop in order to eat.

Now, five years on, I have my own place and
a full time job. I want to be a social worker,
so I m busy looking into courses. My foster
family are still very much part of my life. I
speak to them every week, spend Christmases
with them and call them up if I need to have a
moan about something. They are always there
for me!
They re my family now, no words can express how thankful I am for them and what
they did for me.
If you re interested in helping children like
Lewis or Megan, call our team today on 0800
096 9626 or visit surreycc.gov.uk/fostering

My foster carers were lovely and gave me a
real sense of self-worth. They provided me
with boundaries that I hadn t had before, giving me the stability I needed to settle away
from my birth family.

We all Love a Superhero
By Tom Hancock
The Hancock household is eagerly awaiting the
release of Avengers: Endgame in less than two
months (current release date April 26th). It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say my entire family are
hooked on the whole superhero genre. And we're
not alone. All over the country there are regular
debates about whether Superman would beat Thor
in a fight, or why Iron Man is two words while
Batman is only one.
Our kids dress up like them and carry packed
lunches in plastic boxes emblazoned with their

images (actually some adults do this too.) But
why?
According to recent research from Kyoto University in Japan, our love of superheroes starts before
we can talk. In a series of experiments, infants as
young as six months were shown short animations
in which one figure chased and bumped into a
second. Meanwhile, a third figure watched from
afar. In version A, the third figure steps in and
prevents the collision, while in version B it runs
away without intervening.
After watching the clips, the infants were presented
with replicas of both the intervening and the nonintervening third figures. They consistently preferred the one who saved the day. These results
suggest that babies are capable of understanding
and recognising heroism.
Further experiments showed that extremely young
babies couldn't tell the difference between a saviour who was simply in the right place at the right

www.villagematters.co.uk

26

time, and one who actively stepped in to help.
They didn't grasp the nuances. But by just 18
months old they did understand that difference and
preferred the hero. This suggests that our concept
of justice, and heroism develops very early on.
As we grow up superhero stories seem to resonate
with us. We identify with the themes, with the
dilemmas and problems that superheroes face, and
we aspire to their noble impulses and heroic acts.
We identify with them because often they are created in our image, albeit a larger than life version
of that image.
It helps that most superheroes are
flawed. They are not bloodless
examples of 'goodness and virtue'
but real individuals who are prey
to their emotions and environment
yet who strive to overcome their
foibles and triumph anyway.
Some characters like Batman and
Iron Man have overcome trauma
to become superheroes. In psychology this is called posttraumatic growth and it gives us
hope that we too can overcome
difficulties in our lives and become stronger people.
There is something both empowering and uplifting about watching
your favourite superhero emerge
victorious at the end of a story,
which is why I will be queuing at the cinema on
April 26th with Mrs. Hancock and all the little
Hancocks. See you there.

Lightly toast and butter the muffins or bagels,
then place a couple of slices of the smoked
salmon on each half. Top each with an egg,
then spoon over your Hollandaise and garnish
with chopped chives.

4 eggs
2 tbsp white wine vinegar
2 English muffins or two bagels,
halved
Butter for spreading
8 slices smoked salmon
Chopped chives, to serve
For the hollandaise sauce
2 tsp lemon juice
2 tsp white wine vinegar
3 egg yolks
125g unsalted butter, cubed
Method
Hollandaise Sauce: Pour the lemon juice and
vinegar into a small bowl, add the egg yolks
and whisk with a balloon whisk until light and
frothy. Place the bowl over a pan of
simmering water and continue to whisk until
the mixture thickens. Add the butter a small
amount at a time, whisking constantly until
the sauce is thick. If it looks like it might be
splitting, remove from the heat and continue
to whisk. Season with salt and pepper then
and keep warm.
Poached eggs: bring a large pan of water to
the boil and add the vinegar. Lower the heat
so that the water simmers very gently. Stir the
water a little so you create a gentle whirlpool
effect, then slide in the eggs one by one. Cook
each for about 4 mins, then remove with a
slotted spoon. Handy hint - you will see the
eggs begin to rise in the water as they reach
completion.

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28

Or email paul@villagematters.co.uk

To advertise call Paul on 07946 494288

29

Or email paul@villagematters.co.uk

Garden View
This Month - My Gardening Valentine
In the run-up to Valentine s Day someone always
asks me what they should buy for the gardener in
their life. It s a tricky question to answer. Many
people think we must like cut flowers, but actually
I m not keen and most gardeners I know aren t
either. We have gardens full of the things after all,
and we tend to prefer our plants living and
breathing in their natural environment, rather than
imported from abroad and wrapped in cellophane.
Unless you know a bit about gardening, and the
tastes of your own particular gardener you re
probably best-off avoiding plants too. The nongreen-fingered venture into dangerous territory
when they try to buy plants because there are so
many variables. Will it suit
the soil? Is it too invasive?
Will it poison the gardener s
dog or children eek? It s a
thorny issue (pardon the pun)
so here is my go-to gift list
guaranteed to make you the
Valentine hero of your
gardening amour.
Don t buy a sweatshirt which declares headgardener. They are naff, and most gardeners prefer
old, comfy clothes which do the job better.
However, if you present your gardener with a
tough tunic or gardening apron, which is thornproof, and which has lots of deep pockets to house
secateurs and trowels, they will love you forever.
Then there are wellies. Who knew wellies could be
romantic? But gardening folk drool over wellies
the way Supermodels drool over Jimmy Choos.
And there s so much wellie-choice now. We all
prefer something with a thick sole but there are
bright and colourful wellies and traditional ones.
For the ultimate in warmth and breathability I can
recommend a proper Gore-Tex pair...sheer luxury.
Mine remain the favourite Valentine gift my
husband ever bought me. He knows how to
romance a woman!
A proper long-necked watering can, with a brass
rose will also earn you Valentine brownie points.
Bigger isn t necessarily better though unless your
Valentine boasts big biceps! Watering cans are
heavy when full. I find 3-4 litres is about the right
size.
A bunch of long-stemmed red roses will set you
back at least ÂŁ40 and they might last a few days.
For a similar price you can buy the gardener in
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30

your life Felco secateurs (with Valentine red
handles) and they ll last forever. I know which I d
prefer.
Garden trugs are so practical. Most gardeners I
know would be delighted to receive one. The trug
is a great gift but even better when filled with a
few gardening goodies such as packets of seed,
water retaining granules, plant food etc. You could
add some hand tools too, such as a trowel and a
fork. Make sure they are stainless steel and have
long handles for ease of use.
And insulated mug or a good flask will always
warm the heart of your Valentine because hot
drinks don t remain hot for long outside, even on a
warm day.
Finally, don t forget gardening vouchers. Often us
gardeners spot the perfect plant or gardening
accessory when we re strapped for cash, so
vouchers are a perfect gift to save for a rainy
day...and gardeners love rainy days, Valentine s or
not.
Happy Gardening.

www.villagematters.co.uk

A local
Company
with Local
Knowledge &
Experience
No pressure. No hassle. Just quality products and workmanship at honest prices
We have been established since 1985.
All of our work is guaranteed.
We don't ask for a deposit...
We understand that choosing your new home
improvements is a huge decision that can take time
to really settle on the best option for you. Our
approved installers are there to help you make the
best choice for your home and deliver the highest
levels of value, security, style and energy efficiency
to your home. We believe you deserve more than
'just another double glazing windows installer.

See what some of our satisfied
customers think
• 33 years established, local,
independent company
• Extensive range of quality
products from Vevo
• Great range of colours available
• Windows, doors, bi-folds,
casements, porches

“Installation of double glazed windows and back
door. This is a local family firm which came highly
recommended. All personnel were efficient,
friendly and courteous and the work was finished
to an excellent standard.” Sunbury
“Patio window and door fitted.
No hard sell. Work was accomplished very
efficiently with obvious pride in their work
and product.” Shepperton

We trust you will be happy with the finished job.

• Energy efficient doors and
windows
• Professional design and
installation
• People you can trust
• A friendly approach to
improving your home

It isn t Just a Haircut
Have you ever marked a life event by
changing your hairstyle? Did you regret it, or
did you feel free? Many people, most of them
women, use haircuts as a marker for change.
In films, the main character often undergoes a
makeover as a metaphor for the dramatic
changes they undergo in the movie: Sandy in
Grease, and Julia Roberts' character in Pretty

Woman are just two of them. Before the
makeover, things were bad; after the
makeover, things are good. Simples. Or is it?
In real life hairdressers bear witness to this
scenario frequently. We may not tell them
directly, but often they will sense we're on a
mission to create a new improved version of
ourselves; or a quick way to shed the past and
move on.
But dramatic hairstyle changes while in the
midst of a life crisis can prove ill-advised.
Sometimes we're not really after a new
hairstyle, more a whole new life. And as
satisfying as it is to leave a salon with a
completely new look, we need to remember
that our hair might look different, but our
problems will remain the same. We will still
feel just as bad about our husband running off
with our best friend, we ll just be doing it
Please mention Walton Matters when
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with shorter hair! During a divorce, a
bereavement or a health crisis we will
experience a maelstrom of emotions: and oneminute chopping all our hair off will feel like
the best decision in the world, but the next
minute, when we look in the mirror and see a
total stranger staring back at us it might feel
terrifying.
Yet hair is an important
aspect of how we express
who we are and how we
would like to be seen.
Changing our hair is one
of the easiest ways to send
a signal to the world that
we have changed. It can
be a great tool to help us
shed an outgrown 'self'.
My friend shed her
shoulder-length
blonde
hair for a pixie crop
shortly after she gave birth
to twins. She felt she
needed freedom from her
hair care routine, so she
could spend more time
with her babies. For her it was freeing to be
able to wake, shower and be ready to go in
minutes. I had my tousled waist-length hair
cut to a chic bob when I started my first
proper job in journalism. I felt like I needed
to create a bit of distance between 'student
me' and 'professional me'. Like the caterpillar
shedding the chrysalis I was ready to be
someone new and the har salon was my
chrysalis of choice.
So, the next time you collapse into the
hairdresser s comfy chair intent on an image
overhaul, just pause for a second and ask
yourself why, and whether now is the best
time.
By Tracey Anderson

33

www.villagematters.co.uk

Events Coming Up
Some we like...

Esher & District Amnesty International Group (which includes Walton & Weybridge) meet
on 2nd Weds of every month to sign letters. Small friendly group - please contact Cherry Eddy
0208398 4377 for details.
Surrey Blues Club A great evening of Blues music from Game On and guest band The Ali
Mac Band. No Entrance Fee, No Membership required, Fully Air Conditioned. All welcome,
music from 8.30pm. Friday 1st March 2019 Surrey Blues Club Hersham Sports & Social Club
128 Hersham Road Hersham Surrey KT12 5QL
Alter Ego Drama for Adults weekly sessions give you the chance to learn acting and performance skills, tap into your dramatic creativity and unleash your alter ego! We focus on the process of making drama without the pressure of being in a production. No experience necessary.
Monday & Tuesday 8.30-10pm at the Riverhouse Barn, Walton. Free taster session available.
Enquiries: Caroline 01932 222932 / 07956 421804 enquiries@drama4adults.com
www.drama4adults.com
The PHOENIX FOLK & SQUARE DANCE CLUB is a friendly and informal English Folk
Dance Club. We have a varied programme, with visiting Callers and occasional Musicians, covering everything from modern AMERICAN CONTRAS and SQUARES to 18th century PLAYFORD DANCES. The CLUB meets every THURSDAY at 8pm, except during Easter,
August and Christmas. We welcome individuals or couples, beginners or experienced dancers.
Why not call in at one of our Thursday evening Club nights, meet us and enjoy a complimentary evening of dancing and a cup of tea. We start at 8pm and finish at 10.15pm. Oatlands Village Hall St Mary s Road Oatlands Village Weybridge, Surrey KT13 9PT
Claremont Landscape Garden - Half-term trail: shapes and sizes
Guaranteed fun, come rain or shine! Get some fresh air as you discover all things great and
small with our children's trail. Booking Not Needed. Suitable for children of all ages. Dogs on
leads welcome. A National Trust Event - Gates open 10:00. Start 10:30. End 16:00. Normal
Admission Charges Apply. At the kiosk. Check website for latest information.
Claremont Landscape Garden, Portsmouth Road, Esher, Surrey KT10 9JG Sat 16 Feb 2019 to
Sun 24 Feb 2019 Contact telephone: 01372 467806
Dress for Best An exploration of dress for formal and royal occasions, featuring the most lavish and spectacular garments from the Olive Matthews Collection. Both men s and women s
formal day wear, court wear and evening dress dating from the 1700s to the 1900s are displayed. Highlights include but are not limited to a stunning and rare 1897 gown by the House of
Worth which was worn to the coronation of Edward VII, a dress worn by Queen Mary and a
beautiful 1850s wedding ensemble with both day and evening bodices. None of the above has
been displayed before. Tues to Fri 12.30 to 4.30 Sat 11 to 4. Free admission Chertsey Museum,
The Cedars, 33 Windsor Street, Chertsey, Surrey KT16 8AT Sat 2 Mar Contact telephone: 01932 565764
THE CHANGING DOMESTIC Walton Library 54 The Heart, Walton-on-Thames, KT12
1GH. To April 2019 From the humble pestle and mortar to multi-functional electric mixers, the
display features objects that have helped revolutionize the kitchen from a hidden bunker at the
back of the house to the heart of the home. The Changing Domestic charts the change in
kitchenware and cooking equipment from the Victorian era to the 1980s, Discover improvements in technology, the impacts of social shifts on home life and changes in modern design.
This exhibition has previously been on display at Cobham and Dittons libraries and is now
making a final appearance at Walton Library.
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35

Or email paul@villagematters.co.uk

To advertise email paul@villagematters.co.uk

36

Or call Paul on 07946 494288

Dominic Raab
Our Local MP

Happy New Year to all residents! We ve already had some important local announcements
since the start of the 2019 for people in Walton.
At the start of the month, I was delighted to learn that 10 of our local primary schools have increased the proportion of their pupils achieving the expected standard in reading, writing and
mathematics at Key Stage 2 level.
These great results are a testament to the hard work of both staff and pupils, especially given
the reformed, and more exacting, testing criteria. The majority of our 10 improved local primary schools have achieved well over the national average â&#x20AC;&#x201C; with a special mention to local children at Ashley CofE Aided Primary School in Walton-on-Thames, where 90% of pupils
achieved the expected standard of reading, writing and mathematics, an increase of 22% from
2017.
Next, the Environment Agency revealed its proposals to update the Lower Mole Flood Alleviation Scheme. Since its inception in 1989, the
scheme has provided protection to low-lying
areas in Hersham, Molesey, Esher, and
Thames Ditton by controlling the flow of
water via 3 sluices â&#x20AC;&#x201C; one in Esher and two
in East Molesey. The sluices manage flood
flow, reduce the risk of erosion and maintain
water levels. The scheme protects over 3,000
local homes and businesses from flooding.
The Environment Agency is consulting on a
number of options to refurbish the scheme.
These include replacing the sluices, renovating embankments and naturalising the river.
Walton residents can respond to the consultation, which closes on 13 February 2019, on
the Environment Agency s website.
Dom inspects local flood defences
Finally, Heathrow Airport has opened the second stage of its airspace consultation, setting out
the broad flight path areas for an expanded Heathrow. They are also consulting on plans to introduce a new way for planes to land at the airport, which could mean extra planes operating
from their current two runways. The consultations closes on 4 March and can be accessed at
heathrowconsultation.com .
I will use the consultations to press Heathrow to end the unfair policy of concentration, which
exposes areas such as Walton and Molesey to more than its fair share of noise from planes overhead, and to end routine stacking. I will continue to push for these important local priorities as
the expansion process continues.

March 2019
Issue
Closing on
18th February
paul@villagematters.co.uk
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07946 494288

Or now book online

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29
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Disclaimer: Whilst every care has been taken to ensure accuracy of the information included in this publication, neither the publisher nor
the editorial contributors can accept any liability to any party for loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence,
accident or any other cause. Walton Matters does not endorse any advertising material included in this publication. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval systems or transmitted in any form without prior permission of the publisher.

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38

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Independent Senior Day School
Boys 11–18 years
Girls 16–18 years

OPEN MORNING

Saturday 2nd March 2019 9.30 am–12 noon

VISITOR MORNINGS

Tuesday 26th March 2019 9.30 am and 11.30 am
Thursday 2nd May 2019 9.30 am and 11.30 am
Personal visits available throughout the year.
Find out more and book your visit at: www.hallifordschool.co.uk

At Halliford your child will be known and respected as an individual and encouraged, supported and
inspired to become the best version of themselves that they can possibly be.
Extensive coach service covering the surrounding area • Short walk from Shepperton Station
• Shuttle service from Walton and Staines Stations
registrar@hallifordschool.co.uk